91-Year-Old WWIi Veteran John Potter Being Evicted By Daughter; Relatives Set Up Online Fundraising Campaign To Keep Him In Zaleski Ohio Home

By Staff Writer | April 27, 2013 03:09 PM EDT

A 91-year-old man and WWII veteran is about to be evicted from his home in Zaleski, Ohio. Even worse, it's his daughter, Janis Cottrill, and son-in-law Dean Cottrill, who are pushing for that to happen. NBC 4 reports that used a power of attorney to sign Potter's home in Zaleski, Ohio, into their name and a court ruled in their favor. Potter has received an eviction notice and the WWII veteran could be kicked out of his home within a matter of days.

"I laid awake at night trying to figure out what in the world I could have done to these people to make them so angry at me," said Potter.

The Cottrills' claim that their actions are a result of a family feud for visitation rights for Potter's other child, who suffers from autism.

"For him to stay in that home, it is real simple. Leave Joe alone and stop the lawsuits," said Dean.

Potter's granddaughter, Jaclyn Fraley, said that Janis deeded his house to herself by power-of-attorney in 2004, which she claims is illegal in the state of Ohio. Fraley later took over as power of attorney in 2000 and tried to get the house back into Potter's name. She initially won the ruling, but Janis appealed it and a Vinton County appeals court ruled back in her favor, declaring that she legally owned the home.

"Sadly once the property was granted back to them by the court of appeals, based on the statute of limitations having passed, we are left with no options," said Fraley.

Fraley has since set up an online fundraising page in order to raise the money needed to buy the home back from Janis and Dean, which would allow Potter to remain there for his final years. She is also hoping to work with representatives in the state legislature to create laws which will prevent similar incidents from happening to others.

"I would hope my mother would be a caring compassionate person and even though there is family difficulties, she would still care and respect her father enough to let him spend his final days in his home," said Fraley.